Match-box-filling-adjusting apparatus.



P. W. DIETMANN & V. VIOLON. MATCH BOX FILLING ADJUSTING'APPIBATUSJ APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 3, 1910.

968; 1 37. Patented Aug. 23, .1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig. 1.

P. W. DIBTMANN & V. VIOLON. MATCH BOX FILLING ADJUSTING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 3, 1910.

968,1 37. Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig. 2.

JMM v A e m AW/Aw Y QM P. W. DIETMANN & V. VIOLON. MATGH BOX FILLING ADJUSTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION PILE'D MAY 3, 1910.

968, 1 37. Patnted Aug. 23, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig.3

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL WILHELM DIETMANN AND VALERY VIOLON, OF NINOVE, BELGIUM, ASSIGNORS TO BADISCHE MASCHINENFABRIK & EISENG-IESSEREI VORIVIALS G. SEBOLID UND SEBOLD & NEFF, 0F DURLACH, GERMANY.

MATCH-BOX-FILLIN(it-ADJUSTING APPARATUS.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that we, PAUL WILHELM Dm'rMANN, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, and VALERY VIoLoN, a subject of the King of Belgium, residing at Ninove, in the Kingdom of Belgium, have invented a new and useful Match-Box-Filling-Adjusting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

After the finishing of matches in complete match machines, that is after the splints have been cut from timber, paraf fined, dipped into the viscous igniting material and dried, the matches suspended in comparatively large numbers from the known carriers require to be so divided into groups, that quantities are obtained which suffice to each fill a match box. The so di-v vided quantities of matches are then transported to match boxing or match box filling machines. The numbering of the matches into quantities Sufiicient for boxes was hitherto done by hand, that is to say by counting off, however, this operation is comparatively in exact. WVhen for example the splints did not turn out exactly square or rectangular or true in section, or when the splints were cut from inferior wood, or when the logs had camped out for too long a time, it will be found, that the boxes are not sufiiciently filled with matches. The same defect will result, if for example the heads of the matches are comparatively small, which .is quite possible even with the best dipping devices for match machines, since the size of the match heads depends upon the accidental state, that is the consistence and temperature of the viscous igniting material at the moment of dipping. When constructing the match machines and dipping devices, of course they are calculated for the average quality and age of the wood, the average section of the splints, and the average size of the match heads, so that they will not always suit, if there are actually any discrepancies from the average values.

Our invention relates to an apparatus for automatically adjusting the match box fillings by removing any excess and supplying any want, so that the match boxes will be in any case correctly filled.

We will now proceed to describe our in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 3, 1910.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

Serial No. 559,196.

vention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through the match box filling adjusting apparatus on the broken line AB in Fig. 2, seen in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, when looked at from the left in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the same on the broken line CD in Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference refer to simllar parts throughout the several views.

The new apparatus is preferably inserted between a match delivering device (not shown, but assumed to be on the right side in Fig. 2) of the match machine and a match boxing or match box filling a paratus, of which only a part of the table 1 with one column 2 is shown at Figs. 2 and 3. The frame of the new apparatus is shown to consist of a T-shaped table 3 and two columns 4 and 5, a part of the table 3 being at one end connected with the table 1. Two parallel round bars 6, 6 are mounted in the table 3 to longitudinally move and carry two parallel crossheads 7 and 8 clamped on them. At their left ends in Fig. 1 two brackets 9, 9 are secured, which are connected together by an axle 10 that is prevented from longitudinal motion by two loose collars 11, 11 with set-screws. Two links 12, 12 are fastened on the axle 10 and are pivotally connected with the upper free end of a lever 13, which with its axle lt is mounted to rock in a forked base plate 15 fastened on a suitable base (not shown). A shaft 16 driven from the match machine carries three cam disks 17, 18 and 19, of

which one 19 is adapted to actuate the lever 13 by means of a link 20 and a roller 21 engaging in its groove 22. The forked free end of the link 20 is guided by the shaft 16 between the nave of the cam disk 19 and a disk 23.

On a projection 2 1 of the table 3 is fastened a wrought-iron trough 25, which extends to the match delivering device on the one hand and to the receiving part of the match boxing or match box filling apparatus on the other hand. This trough 25 serves as a guide for a plurality of long rectangular carriers 26, 26, which are intermittently fed forward from the match delivering device. Each carrier 26 is shown to have four parallel transversely disposed receptacles 27, 27 for matches 28, 28, which receptacles are open on both sides and are each adapted to contain a match box filling and are widened upward, as is clearly shown at Fig. 2, for receiving and pressing together the matches at the match delivering device of the match machine. A casing 29 open at the top and on the left in Figs. 1 and 3 is fastened on the table 3 by means of a screw parallel to the trough 25 in close proximity of the same. The box 29 has four chambers 31, 31, which register with the four receptacles 27, 27 in any of the carriers 26, 26 and are open above and below. Fastened on the one crosshead 7 are four parallel ejectors 32, 32, which are adapted to engage in the four receptacles 27, 27 of any carrier 26 and to eject therefrom the match box fillings 28, 28 to the chambers 31, 31. The table 3 is provided with a bracket 33, which forms a bearing for the axle 34 of two bent levers 35, 35, which are pivot-ally connected by means of a stay 37 with two extensible or adjustable rods 36, 36. Normally the two levers 35, 35 bear on a horizontal support 38, which is vertically adjustable by means of nuts 40, 40 on two bolts 39, 39 secured in the table 3. At the free end of each lever 35 on both sides of the same are fastened two bent arms 41, 41, which project upward into two of the chambers 31, 31 and terminate in two movable bottoms 42, 42 for the same. When the two levers 35, 35 rest on the support 38, the four movable bottoms 42, 42 are to be on a level with the bottoms of the receptacles 27, 27, so that they can receive therefrom the match box fillings 28, 28. Of course the trough 25 is provided with opposite cuts 43, 43 for permitting the ejectors 32, 32 to pass through the receptacles 27, 27. On the other crosshead 8 are fastened in line with the ejectors 32, 32 four parallel counter-ejectors 44, 44, which pass through suitable openings in the casing 29 and serve for returning the match box fillings 28, 28 from the movable bottoms 42, 42 to the receptacles 27, 27. The axis of the axle 34 is shown to be in the same horizontal plane as the bottoms of the receptacles 27, 27 and the top faces of the movable bottoms 42, 42 in. their normal position, see Fig. 1. The top face of the casing 29 is in an inclined plane passing through the axis of the axle 34 for a purpose to be presently explained. The casing 29 is cast in one with two arms 45, 45, the free ends of which are bent upward and serve for guiding two opposite dividers 46, 46. The top face of the casing 29 is cut out to form eight guides for the two dividers 46, 46, which latter can each pass through two of the chambers 31, 31. Two covers 47, 47 (Fig. 2) put over the ends of the arms 45, 45 prevent the dividers 46,

46 from shifting upward. The two dividers 46, 46 are sharpened attheir ends facing one another, so as to enable them to pass between the matches.

An equalizing magazine 48 is fastened on the casing 29 by means of a projection 49 attached to a projecting face 50 (Fig. 3) 011 the casing 29. For insuring an easy survey of the magazine 48 we prefer to make it open on one side, that is on the left in Fig. 1, and for this reason we slightly incline the magazine, so as to preventthe matches contained in it from flying off under the action of any vibration of the apparatus. The magazine 48 is on its lower part provided with inclined Walls, whereby a sort of hoppers 51, 52, 53, 54 leading to the four chambers 31, 31 is formed. The operator is thus enabled to at once see, whether a sufficient quantity of matches is contained in the magazine 48, and he can remove any excess from it or supply any lack of matches. The two dividers 46, 46 normally serve as bottoms for the four hoppers 51, 52, 53, 54.

On the base is fastened a forked base-plate 55, in which a shaft 56 is mounted to rock. On this shaft 56 are keyed two parallel arms 57, 57 on one side (Fig. l) and a third arm 58 on the other side. On each arm 57 is a pin 59 which engages in the slot 60 of the forked lower end of the corresponding adjustable rod 36 and prevents this end from lateral motion. The free end of the arm 58 carries a pin 61, on which a roller 62 is mounted to turn. The cam disk 17 has a cam 63, the outer surface of which is corrugated, as is clearly shown at Fig. 1. It will be understood, that as long as the roller 62 rolls on the concentric portion of smaller radius of the cam disk 17 the two arms 57 57 will maintain their normal position shown, but on the roller 62 rolling on the corrugated surface of the cam 63, the two arms 57, 57 will be not only turned upward, but also vibrated. The two rods 36, 36 suspended from the two levers 35, 35 are shown to be so adjusted as to leave a certain play in their slots 60 above the pins 59, so that on the two arms 57, 57 being turned upward, their pins 59, 59 will during the first part of the turn simply move in the slots 60, 60 without actuating the rods 36, 36, until they strike the ends of the slots 60, 60 and will by the rods 36, 36 raise the four movable bottoms 42, 42, so that the match box fillings on them will come in contact with the lowermost matches in the four hoppers 51, 52, 53, 54 at the moment that the two dividers 46, 46 are withdrawn in a manner to be hereinafter described. Then the distance of the top faces of the movable bottoms 42, 42 from the lowermost matches in the said hoppers will be equal to the inside height of the match boxes to be filled with matches. For other sizes of the boxes, the two rods 36, 36 will require to be adjusted in their length in accordance with the varying inside height of the boxes. When the movable bottoms 42, 42 are in the described manner not only raised, but also vibrated, this will produce the effect, that the matches will be obliged to settle down and to adjust themselves for properly filling the match boxes.

On the underside of the table 3 is fastened a spread bracket 64 carrying at the ends two pins 65, 65, on which two bell-crank levers 66, 67, 66, 67 are mounted to rock. A rod 68 is vertically guided in a hole in the table 3 and is provided on both sides with pins 69, 69, which engage in slots 70, 70 at the free ends of the arms 66, 66. The rod 68 is adjustably connected by means of a screwjoint 71 with a fork 72, which is vertically guided by the shaft 16 between the already mentioned disk 23 and the nave of the cam disk 18. F astened on the fork 72 is a pin 73, on which a roller 74 is mounted to turn, while it is adapted to roll on the periphery of the cam disk 18 provided with a high cam 75. In two projections 77, 77 of the table 3 are fastened two vertical pins 76, 76, on which two levers 78, 78 are mounted to rock horizontally. Each divider 46 has a pin 79, which engages in slots 80 at the free forked end of the corresponding lever 78. Each lever 78 has fastened on its underside a rounded pin 81, which engages in a slot 82 at the upper free end of the corresponding arm 67.

The adjusting apparatus operates as follows: The shaft 16 is to be driven in the direction of the arrow 83 in Fig. 1. Each time when the four receptacles 27, 27 of a carrier 26 have been filled with matches in the approximate quantities by any known delivering device of the match machine, the carrier 26 is pushed into the trough 25 through a distance like its length. In this manner one carrier 26 after the other is filled and pushed forward, until the first carrier 26 arrives before the magazine 48. This takes place at the moment, that the roller 21 at the link 20 engages in the long portion of greater radius of the groove 22 at the cam disk 19. In consequence of this the parts 13, 12, 12, 10, 9, 9, the two bars 6, 6 with the two crossheads 7 and 8, the ejectors 32, 32 and the counter-ejectors 44, 44 still occupy their normal position shown in all the figures, so that the first carrier 26 is permitted to move in the trough 25 between the ejectors 32, 32 and the counterejectors 44, 44. At the same moment the roller 62 at the arm 58 bears on the concentric portion of the cam disk 17, so that the two levers 35, 35 with the rods 36, 36, the arms'41, 41 and the movable bottoms 42, 42 still occupy their normal position shown at Fig. 1. At the same time the roller 74 at the fork 72 bears on the concentric portion of the cam disk 18, so that all the parts connected with the fork 72 and more particularly the two dividers 46, 46 occupy their normal position shown, so that the matches in the hoppers 51, 52, 53, 54 are supported by the dividers 46, 46. After the turn of the shaft 16 through a certain angle the roller 21 will engage in the doubly bent por tion connecting the two concentric portions of different radius of the groove 22, so that the lever 13 will be turned from the left to the right in Fig. 1 and consequently the four ejectors 32, 32 will eject the match box fillings 28, 28 from the receptacles 27, 27 to the movable bottoms 42, 42 and immediately afterward the ejectors 32, 32 will be moved back through a small distance in accordance with the said portion of the groove 22, so as to release the match box fillings 28, 28. Directly afterward the arm 58 is depressed by the cam 63 so that the movable bottoms 42, 42 with the matches on them are raised. About at or shortly before the end of the upward stroke of the movable bottoms 42, 42 the cam actuates by the roller 74 the fork 72, so that by the parts connected therewith the two levers 78, 78 are turned outward for withdrawing the dividers 46, 46 from the magazine 48, so that the matches on the movable bottoms 42, 42 are permitted to. come in contact with the matches in the several hoppers 51, 52, 53, 54. If the match box fillings happen to exceed in volume the contents of the boxes to be filled, this will have the consequence, that their excesses are pushed upward into the respective hoppers. On the contrary, if the match box fillings happen to be smaller in volume than the contents of the boxes, the consequence will be, that some of the matches from the hoppers will drop beneath the point where the dividers were previously located. In order to insure the proper filling of the boxes with matches, the movable bottoms 42, 42 are in the above described manner several times vibrated so as to compel the matches to settle down. Thereupon the roller 74 is released by the cam 75, so that all the parts connected therewith and consequently also the two dividers 46, 46 are returned to their initial position, when the matches on the movable bottoms 42, 42 will be divided from those in the hoppers. Afterward the roller 21 passing through a short portion of the largest radius of the groove 22 will move back by the lever 13 all the parts connected therewith, so that the counter-ejectors 44 are enabled to eject the matches from the movable bottoms 42, 42 to the receptacles 27 27 and immediately afterward the roller 21 entering the long portion of larger radius will return all the parts to their initial position, so that the counter-ejectors 44, 44 are withdrawn from the receptacles 27 27 and consequently the carrier 26 is now released and permitted to pass on. After the carriers 26, 26 are in any known manner emptied by the match boxing or match box filling machine, they may in any known manner be returned beneath the table 3 (see Fig. 1) to the delivering device of the match machine to be there recharged.

The match box filling adjusting apparatus described can be varied in many respects without departing from the spirit of our invention.

WVe claim:

1. In an apparatus for adjusting the match box fillings, the combination with a frame, of a trough on said frame, carriers adapted to be pushed forward one after the other in said trough and having match receptacles each open on both sides, a casing on said frame in proximity to one side of said trough and having vertical chambers registering with the receptacles in any of said carriers, an equalizing match magazine on said casing comprising hoppers leading into the chambers of same, a divider longitudinally guided between said casing and said magazine and adapted to divide the matches, means reciprocating said divider, movable bottoms in the chambers in said casing, means periodically raising said movable bottoms from the level of the receptacles in said carriers to a point beneath said divider and again lowering them, ejectors adapted to pass across said trough for ejecting the matches from any carrier to said movable bottoms, counter-ejectors adapted to pass through the chambers in said casing for ejecting the matches from said movable bottoms back to said carrier, and means for reciprocating said ejectors and said counterejectors.

2. In an apparatus for adjusting the match box fillings, the combination with a frame, of a trough on said frame, carriers adaptedto be pushed forward one after the other in said trough and having match receptacles each open on both sides, a casing on said frame in proximity to one side of said trough and having vertical chambers registering with the receptacles in any of said carriers, an equalizing match magazine on said casing comprising hoppers leading into the chambers of same, a divider longitudinally guided between said casing and said magazine and adapted to divide the matches, movable bottoms in the chambers in said casing, ejectors adapted to pass across said trough, counter-ejectors in line with said ejectors and adapted to pass through the chambers in said casing, means for reciprocating said ejectors so as to eject the matches from any carrier to said movable bottoms, means for raising and vibrating said movable bottoms so as to bring the matches in contact with those in said magazine and for again lowering them, means reciprocating said divider so as to permit the matches to settle down and to again divide them, and means reciprocating said counter-ejectors so as to eject the matches from said movable bottoms back to said carrier.

3. In an apparatus for adjusting the match box fillings, the combination with a frame, of a trough on said frame, carriers adapted to be pushed forward one after the other in said trough and having match receptacles each open on both sides, a casing on said frame in proximity to one side of said trough and having vertical chambers registering with the receptacles in any of said carriers, an equalizing match magazine on said casing comprising hoppers leading into the chambers of same, a divider longitudinally guided between said casing and said magazine and adapted to divide the matches, movable bottoms in the chambers in said casing, ejectors adapted to pass across said trough, counter-ejectors in line with said ejectors and adapted to pass through the chambers in said casing, a cam shaft adapted to be driven from the match-machine, a mechanism operated from said cam shaft for reciprocating said ejectors and said counter-ejectors so as to eject the matches from any carrier to said movable bottoms and to eject them back, a mechanism operated from said cam shaft for raising, vibrating and again lowering said movable bottoms so as to bring the matches in contact with those in said magazine and to cause them to settle down, and a mechanism operated from said cam shaft for reciprocating said divider.

PAU L lVILl-IELM DIETMANN. VALERY VIOLON.

lVitnesses:

CHARLES HoNow, GREGORY PI-IELAN. 

